Whiteboard

VDO.Ninja Whiteboard: Live Streaming Collaboration Tool

Overview

VDO.Ninja Whiteboard is a powerful, browser-based drawing tool that integrates with VDO.Ninja's peer-to-peer streaming technology. It allows you to create and share live drawings, diagrams, or annotations with viewers in real-time without requiring any downloads, installations, or accounts.

You can access it here: https://vdo.ninja/whiteboard

Example Masterpiece

Key Features

• Live Whiteboard Streaming: Share your drawings in real-time with anyone through a simple view link

• Multiple Publishing Options: Stream via VDO.Ninja P2P, WHIP, or directly to Twitch

• End-to-End Encryption: When using the VDO.Ninja mode, all streams are encrypted peer-to-peer

• Drawing Tools: Includes brush, text tool, eraser, fill tool, and color picker

• No-Install Browser Based: Works entirely in your browser with no plugins required

• Free and Open Source: Use it without cost or limitations

  

  Menu setup

How It Works with VDO.Ninja

The whiteboard leverages VDO.Ninja's P2P data channels and media streaming capabilities to broadcast your canvas to viewers securely and efficiently.

Technical Integration

1. Embedding VDO.Ninja: The whiteboard creates a hidden iframe that loads VDO.Ninja with specific parameters:

function createAndAppendIframe(config) {
    let url = new URL("./index.html", window.location.href);
    
    if (config.mode === 'vdo') {
        if (config.room) url.searchParams.set("room", config.room);
        if (config.push) url.searchParams.set("push", config.push);
        if (config.password) url.searchParams.set("password", config.password);
    }
    
    url.searchParams.set("framegrab", "");
    url.searchParams.set("view", "");

    const iframe = document.createElement("iframe");
    iframe.style.width = "0";
    iframe.style.height = "0";
    iframe.src = url.toString();
    
    document.body.appendChild(iframe);
    return iframe;
}

1. Canvas Streaming: The whiteboard captures the canvas content and sends it to the VDO.Ninja iframe:

async function startStreaming() {
    const iframe = document.querySelector('iframe');
    if (!iframe) return;

    // Using modern MediaStreamTrackProcessor API when available
    if (typeof MediaStreamTrackProcessor === 'function') {
        const { tracks } = await createCanvasStream();
        
        // Send frames to the VDO.Ninja iframe
        const processor = new MediaStreamTrackProcessor(track);
        const reader = processor.readable.getReader();
        
        // Read and send each frame
        // ...
    } else {
        // Fallback to sending canvas as data URL
        frameGenerator = setInterval(() => {
            const imageData = canvas.toDataURL('image/webp');
            iframe.contentWindow.postMessage({
                type: 'canvas-frame',
                frame: imageData
            }, '*');
        }, 1000/10); // 10 fps
    }
}

1. View Link Generation: When using VDO.Ninja mode, it generates a view link that can be shared with viewers:

const viewUrl = new URL("./", window.location.href);
if (push) viewUrl.searchParams.set("view", push);
if (room) viewUrl.searchParams.set("room", room);
if (password) viewUrl.searchParams.set("password", password);
document.getElementById('viewLink').value = viewUrl.toString();

How to Use the Whiteboard

1. Access the Tool: Open the whiteboard in any modern browser

2. Choose Publishing Mode:

   • VDO.Ninja (P2P): For secure, peer-to-peer streaming

   • WHIP: For streaming to any WHIP-compatible service

   • Twitch: For direct streaming to Twitch

   • Playground: For local drawing with no streaming

3. Configure Your Stream:

   • For VDO.Ninja mode, enter an optional Stream ID and/or Room Name

   • Set a password if desired for privacy

4. Start Drawing: Use the brush, text, eraser, and fill tools to create your content

5. Share the View Link: Copy and share the generated view link with anyone you want to see your whiteboard

Benefits of Using VDO.Ninja Integration

• Low Latency: Direct peer-to-peer connections provide near real-time sharing

• Privacy: End-to-end encryption ensures your whiteboard sessions remain private

• Firewall Friendly: Works through NATs and firewalls without port forwarding

• Scalability: Multiple viewers can connect simultaneously

• Cost Effective: No server costs as data transfers directly between peers

• Cross-Platform: Works on any device with a modern browser

Use Cases

• Remote teaching and tutoring

• Live diagramming during video conferences

• Virtual brainstorming sessions

• Real-time collaboration on design concepts

• Creating explanatory drawings for live streams

• Adding visual annotations to presentations

The VDO.Ninja Whiteboard combines the power of HTML5 Canvas with VDO.Ninja's peer-to-peer streaming technology to provide a versatile, secure, and accessible tool for real-time visual communication.